Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
  • B65G53/34—Details
  • B65G53/40—Feeding or discharging devices
  • B65G53/50—Pneumatic devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C11/00—Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00
  • B05C11/10—Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C11/00—Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00
  • B05C11/11—Vats or other containers for liquids or other fluent materials
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G37/00—Combinations of mechanical conveyors of the same kind, or of different kinds, of interest apart from their application in particular machines or use in particular manufacturing processes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G53/00—Conveying materials in bulk through troughs, pipes or tubes by floating the materials or by flow of gas, liquid or foam
  • B65G53/04—Conveying materials in bulk pneumatically through pipes or tubes; Air slides
  • B65G53/28—Systems utilising a combination of gas pressure and suction
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
  • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
  • F04B37/00—Pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B35/00
  • F04B37/10—Pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B35/00 for special use
  • F04B37/14—Pumps having pertinent characteristics not provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B35/00 for special use to obtain high vacuum
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C11/00—Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00
  • B05C11/10—Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material
  • B05C11/1042—Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material provided with means for heating or cooling the liquid or other fluent material in the supplying means upstream of the applying apparatus
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05C11/00—Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00
  • B05C11/10—Storage, supply or control of liquid or other fluent material; Recovery of excess liquid or other fluent material
  • B05C11/1047—Apparatus or installations for supplying liquid or other fluent material comprising a buffer container or an accumulator between the supply source and the applicator

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to an adhesive bin for an adhesive melter, and more particularly, to an adhesive bin and method for moving adhesive particulate with improved pumping efficiency to an adhesive melter.
• thermoplastic hot melt adhesives are used for carton sealing, case sealing, tray forming, pallet stabilization, nonwoven application including diaper manufacturing, and many other applications.
• Hot melt adhesive in its pre- melted state (referred to herein as "particulate” hot melt adhesive), can be provided in a variety of particulate shapes and sizes, ranging from small bb- sized pieces, to larger sized pieces including pellets and chips.
• Adhesive material in the form of adhesive particulate, may be supplied to the adhesive melter where it is heated and melted to a desired temperature for dispensing. Hot melt adhesives are often dispensed by systems including a dispensing gun coupled via heated hoses to an adhesive melter.
• An adhesive bin may contain adhesive particulate for storage prior to melting in the adhesive melter.
• a transfer pump such as a pneumatic pump, connects to the adhesive bin for moving the adhesive particulate via a hose from the adhesive bin to the adhesive melter.
• Pneumatic pumps generally rely on the suction of gas, such as air, entrained within gaps between individual pieces of adhesive particulate stored within the adhesive bin for moving the adhesive particulate. This gas may also be referred to as "makeup" gas.
• the adhesive particulate gravity feeds into a lower portion of the adhesive bin toward an inlet of the transfer pump and submerges a majority of the pump inlet.
• the transfer pump generates a vacuum at the inlet that withdraws the entrained make-up gas and adhesive particulate therein.
• the suction of the entrained make-up gas creates a vacuum within the gaps of the adhesive particulate that withdraws additional gas from a
• An exemplary embodiment of an adhesive bin for storing and moving adhesive particulate includes a supply hopper, a transfer pump, and shroud.
• the supply hopper includes a sidewall and defines an interior space. The interior space is configured for storing adhesive particulate.
• the transfer pump includes a pump housing that defines an inlet. The transfer pump is operatively connected to the supply hopper such that the pump housing extends into the interior space of the supply hopper. The transfer pump is also operable to generate a vacuum at the inlet to actuate removal of the adhesive particulate from the supply hopper.
• the shroud is connected to the sidewall and extends into the interior space of the supply hopper. The shroud surrounds at least a portion of the inlet for maintaining a consistent minimized depth of the adhesive particulate located directly above the inlet within the supply hopper..
• the shroud includes a plurality of connected panels.
• the connected panels may partially or completely surround the pump housing around the inlet.
• the shroud extends from the sidewall around the pump housing such that the shroud, pump housing, and sidewall collectively define a gas space positioned within the interior space of the supply hopper. The gas space may entrain an additional amount of make-up gas proximate to the inlet when the interior space is filled with adhesive particulate.
• the transfer pump operates more efficiently in moving adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter because make-up gas is easier to draw into the pump inlet with the consistent minimized depth and the active addition of more gas located proximate to the pump inlet.
• an adhesive bin for storing and moving adhesive particulate includes a supply hopper, a transfer pump, a vibrator, and a gas conduit.
• the supply hopper includes a sidewall and defines an interior space. The interior space is configured for storing adhesive particulate.
• the transfer pump includes a pump housing that defines an inlet. The transfer pump is operatively connected to the supply hopper such that the pump housing extends into the interior space of the supply hopper. The transfer pump is also operable to generate a vacuum at the inlet to actuate removal of the adhesive particulate from the supply hopper.
• the vibrator is configured to fluidly connect to a gas supply for actuating the vibrator, which is fluidly connected to the gas conduit.
• the gas conduit defines a gas outlet for receiving the gas supply from the vibrator. The gas outlet is positioned proximate to the inlet for exhausting the gas supply as make-up gas located around the adhesive particulate proximate to the inlet.
• a method of moving adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter includes filling an interior space of a supply hopper with an adhesive particulate.
• the method further includes entraining an amount of make-up gas within a gas space at least partially defined by a shroud within the interior space of the supply hopper.
• the gas space is proximate to an inlet of a transfer pump to thereby increase an amount of make-up gas located around the adhesive particulate proximate to the inlet.
• the method includes actuating the transfer pump to generate a vacuum at the inlet to actuate removal of the adhesive particulate from the supply hopper.
• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an adhesive bin used to supply adhesive particulate to an adhesive melter of an adhesive dispensing system.
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the adhesive bin of FIG. 1 , showing details of a supply hopper, a transfer pump, and a vibrator.
• FIG. 3 is a perspective sectional view of the adhesive bin of FIG. 1 taken along section line 3-3 in FIG. 1 .
• FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the adhesive bin of FIG. 1 taken along section line 4-4 in FIG. 1.
• an exemplary embodiment of an adhesive bin 10 configured to store and move adhesive particulate, such as pellets and chips, to an adhesive melter 12 of an adhesive dispensing system is shown.
• the adhesive particulate may then be melted into liquid adhesive with the adhesive melter 12 and dispensed via an adhesive dispensing module 13.
• the adhesive particulate is in the form of adhesive pellets 14 (see FIG. 4).
• the term "adhesive pellets" is not intended to be limiting as to any specific shape or size, so long as the adhesive pellets are suitable to be carried by a stream of forced air such as a vacuum-driven stream.
• adhesive pellets may have regular shapes, irregular shapes, or any combination thereof.
• any two pellets may have distinct shapes and/or dimensions and still be jointly and generally referred to as "adhesive pellets.”
• the collective adhesive particulate stored within the adhesive bin 10 includes a plurality of gaps between individual pieces of adhesive particulate. Gas, such as ambient air, is "entrained” within each of the gaps around the individual pieces of adhesive particulate.
• gas such as ambient air
• the term “entrained” refers to gas generally within and around the collective adhesive particulate stored within the adhesive bin 10.
• “entrained” should not be limited to entrapping or sealing gas within the collective adhesive particulate or individual pieces of adhesive particulate. Rather, the term “entrained” refers to gas within the adhesive bin 10 that is at least partially surrounded by adhesive particulate.
• the adhesive bin 10 includes a supply hopper 16 having a lid 18 movable between open and closed positions.
• the supply hopper 16 is formed from at least one sidewall.
• the at least one sidewall includes a front sidewall 20 and an opposing rear sidewall 22.
• a pair of opposing lateral sidewalls 24, 26 each extend between the front and rear sidewalls 20, 22 such that the supply hopper 16 is generally rectangular in shape.
• an upper portion 28 of the supply hopper 16 includes a plurality of ribs 30 positioned on each of the front, rear, and lateral sidewalls 20, 22, 24, 26 for improving the rigidity of the upper portion 28.
• a lower portion 32 of the supply hopper 16 also includes a bottom 34 extending transversely between each of the front, rear, and lateral sidewalls 20, 22, 24, 26.
• the sidewalls 20, 22, 24, 26 and bottom 34 collectively define an interior space 36 for receiving and storing adhesive particulate.
• the front sidewall 20 also includes a window 35 for viewing the interior space 36.
• the window 35 is connected to the front sidewall 20 via a plurality of window fasteners 37.
• the window 35 is generally transparent; however, the window 35 may also be generally translucent for viewing the interior space 36 to see the level of adhesive particulate within the interior space 36 in accordance with the invention described herein.
• the lid 18 covers an opening (not shown) into the interior space 36 when in the closed position.
• the opening (not shown) is generally square and defined by the upper portion 28 of the supply hopper 16 for receiving adhesive particulate from above the adhesive bin 10.
• the lid 18 pivots about a hinge 38 adjacent to the rear sidewall 22 for moving between open and closed positions.
• the lid 18 includes a pair of handles 40 for
• the adhesive bin 10 also includes a pair of wheels 42 and a pair of support members 44 for supporting the supply hopper 16 on a floor 46.
• Each of the wheels 42 are positioned on ends of an axle 48 extending through the lower portion 32 of the supply hopper 16 generally parallel to the rear sidewall 22.
• the wheels 42 are generally positioned adjacent to the rear sidewall 22 and straddle the opposing lateral sidewalls 24, 26.
• Each support member 44 is positioned on the bottom 34 adjacent to the front sidewall 20 and one of the lateral sidewalls 24, 26.
• the adhesive bin 10 may pivot upward about the wheels 42 for lifting the support members 44 off of the floor 46 and rolling the adhesive bin 10 to another position.
• the particular structure and shape or profile formed by the adhesive bin 10 may be modified in other embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the adhesive bin 10 further includes an adhesive transfer assembly 49 configured for moving the adhesive particulate from the interior space 36 to the adhesive melter 12.
• the adhesive transfer assembly 49 is generally mounted to a recessed portion 51 of the rear sidewall 22 with a plurality of fasteners 50.
• the recessed portion 51 tapers into the interior space 36 for defining an assembly volume 52 in which the adhesive transfer assembly 49 is generally positioned.
• a mount panel 53 is also connected to the rear sidewall 22 for providing a rigid location for mounting various connections and conduits.
• a gas source 54 for supplying a gas supply is fluidly connected to a supply conduit 55 connected to the mount panel 53.
• the supply conduit 55 directs the gas supply to a manifold assembly 56.
• the gas supply first routes through a filter 58 of the manifold assembly 56 and then to the remaining portion of the adhesive transfer assembly 49 to diminish the likelihood of foreign particles damaging the components of the adhesive transfer assembly 49.
• the gas supply is directed by a controller 60 to a transfer pump 62, such as a pneumatic pump, and a vibrator 64, each of which is connected to the recessed portion 51 of the rear sidewall 22.
• a power cord 66 is connected to the mount panel 53 for electrically connecting to a power supply 68 of the controller 60.
• the controller 60 operatively directs the gas supply through a coupling 70.
• the coupling 70 splits the gas supply into a first gas supply portion and a second gas supply portion.
• the first gas supply portion flows from the coupling 70 to a pump gas inlet 72 via a pump gas conduit 74 for operating the transfer pump 62.
• the second gas supply portion flows from the coupling 70 to a vibrator gas inlet 76 via a vibrator gas conduit 78 for operating the vibrator 64.
• the gas supply may simultaneously be used to operate the transfer pump 62 and the vibrator 64.
• the gas supply is pressurized at approximately 65 psi and adapted to provide at least
• the transfer pump 62 uses approximately 12 cfm as a venturi pump for operation while the vibrator 64 uses the remaining gas supply for operation.
• the transfer pump 62 includes an inner pump housing 80, which defines a pump inlet 82, and an outer pump housing 84, which defines a pump outlet 86.
• the inner and outer pump housings 80, 84 are connected to the recessed portion 51 of the rear sidewall 22.
• the inner pump housing 80 extends from the recessed portion 51 to within the interior space 36
• the outer pump housing 84 extends outwardly from the recessed portion 51 , away from the interior space 36.
• the pump inlet 82 fluidly connects with the pump outlet 86.
• the pump outlet 86 is fluidly connected to the adhesive melter 12 for moving the adhesive particulate through the transfer pump 62 and to the adhesive melter 12.
• the vibrator 64 is mounted to the recessed portion 51 via vibrator fasteners 88.
• the gas supply powers the vibrator 64 to operatively vibrate the recessed portion 51 for reducing compaction of the adhesive particulate within the interior space 36 adjacent to the pump inlet 82.
• the gas supply exhausting from a vibrator outlet 90 is directed into the interior space 36 via an exhaust gas conduit 92.
• the gas supply exhausting from the vibrator outlet 90 may be directed outside of the interior space 36.
• the exhausting gas supply is effectively used as additional "make-up" gas for improving the efficiency of the transfer pump 62.
• the term "make-up" gas generally refers to gas within the supply hopper 16 drawn into the pump inlet 82 from around the adhesive particulate during use.
• the make-up gas may be provided actively, such as pumping gas directly into the interior space 36, or passively, such as drawing entrained gas from gaps and other spaces around the adhesive particulate.
• the actively provided make-up gas and/or passively provided make-up gas are provided at least proximate to the pump inlet 82 for improving the efficiency of the transfer pump 62.
• the exhausting gas supply from the vibrator 64 is routed proximate to the pump inlet 82 via the exhaust gas conduit 92.
• the exhaust gas conduit 92 includes an exhaust conduit outlet 93 and extends through the recessed portion 51 of the rear sidewall 22 and into the interior space 36.
• the exhausting gas supply provides a preferred source of make-up gas because it is already sealed and filtered within the adhesive transfer assembly 49 as described above.
• the exhaust conduit outlet 93 is positioned generally proximate to the pump inlet 82.
• the gas supply actuates the transfer pump 62 to generate a vacuum at the pump inlet 82 for withdrawing gas through the pump inlet 82 as shown by arrow 95a.
• the gas actuates removal of the adhesive particulate by picking up and carrying adhesive particulate proximate to the pump inlet 82 into the transfer pump 62.
• the efficiency of the transfer pump 62 is reduced.
• actively providing make-up gas proximate to the pump inlet 82 as shown by arrow 95b improves the efficiency of the transfer pump 62.
• the adhesive bin 10 also includes a shroud 94 for minimizing a depth of adhesive particulate located directly above the pump inlet 82.
• the shroud 94 is connected to an inner surface 96 of the recessed portion 51 and extends from the inner surface 96 into the interior space 36 so as to at least partially surround the inner pump housing 80.
• the shroud 94 includes a cover panel 98 vertically above the pump inlet 82.
• a medial panel 100 is connected on each side of the cover panel 98 for further widening the shroud 94 above the inner pump housing 80.
• a side panel 102 extends downward from each of the medial panels 100, and a bottom panel 104 extends between the pair of side panels 102.
• the inner pump housing 80 is completely surrounded by the shroud 94 in the exemplary embodiment.
• the bottom panel 104 also includes a recess 106 to help assist the adhesive particulate in filling up and covering the pump inlet 82 during use.
• the shroud 94 may be shaped or formed into various configurations. As such, the shroud 94 is not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiment described herein.
• the bottom panel 104 and/or other panels may be omitted in other embodiments of the adhesive bin 10.
• the shroud 94 effectively deflects the adhesive particulate and prevents the adhesive particulate from stacking with a large depth directly above the inner pump housing 80.
• the large depth or variable depth of particulate adhesive that results when the shroud 94 is not present makes it more difficult for the pump inlet 82 to draw make-up air from the surrounding environment.
• the shroud 94 and inner pump housing 80 collectively define a gas space 108 that may entrain additional gas proximate to the pump inlet 82. The entrained gas within the gas space 108 may then be used as make-up gas for improving the efficiency of the pump.
• the gas space 108 is sized above the pump inlet 82 so as to provide a consistent minimized depth d c of adhesive particulate in which the pump inlet 82 is positioned.
• the consistent minimized depth d c is generally defined as the depth of adhesive particulate from the top of the gas space 108 to the pump inlet 82.
• the adhesive particulate generally has a variable depth d v above the pump inlet 82 that lowers as the transfer pump 62 moves the adhesive particulate from the supply hopper 16.
• the variable depth d v is generally defined as the depth of the adhesive particulate from an upper surface of the adhesive particulate to the pump inlet 82.
• variable depth d v is greater than the consistent minimized depth d c until the supply hopper 16 is substantially empty.
• the variable depth d v is generally equal to the consistent minimized depth d c .
• the pump inlet 82 is not submerged at a depth greater than the consistent minimized depth d c , because the shroud 94 and the gas space 108 are positioned vertically above the pump inlet 82.
• the transfer pump 62 effectively withdraws make-up gas from the gas space 108 along the lesser depth d c , and this further improves pumping efficiency.
• the vibrator 64 is rigidly connected to the recessed portion 51 , which is rigidly connected to the shroud 94.
• the vibrations created by the vibrator 64 also vibrate the shroud 94, which extends even further into the interior space 36 than the recessed portion 51 .
• the vibration of the shroud 94 further loosens the adhesive particulate proximate to the pump inlet 82 and, in turn, provides for additional entrainment of make-up gas around the adhesive particulate for improving the efficiency of the transfer pump 62.
• the position of the shroud 94, the vibrations of the vibrator 64, and the delivery of gas supply through the exhaust gas conduit 92 may collectively be used to increase entrained make-up gas available proximate to the pump inlet 82.
• This additional access to make-up air, in combination with the consistent minimized depth of particulate adhesive located above the pump inlet 82, enables a more efficient pumping operation. .

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
• Adhesives Or Adhesive Processes (AREA)
• Coating Apparatus (AREA)
• Air Transport Of Granular Materials (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Related Child Applications (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=51625473

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (52)

• 2014
  • 2014-03-25 WO PCT/US2014/031648 patent/WO2014160667A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-03-25 ES ES14774914T patent/ES2857178T3/es active Active
  • 2014-03-25 JP JP2016505526A patent/JP6449238B2/ja active Active
  • 2014-03-25 CN CN201480015853.0A patent/CN105164034B/zh active Active
  • 2014-03-25 EP EP14774914.7A patent/EP2978699B1/de active Active
  • 2014-03-25 US US14/436,663 patent/US9688487B2/en active Active
• 2017
  • 2017-05-25 US US15/605,839 patent/US9957118B2/en active Active

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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